Time switch



Ju1y1, 1941. R. HERMANN 2,247,811

TIME SWITCH Filed Jan 2l, 1941 gli Pfg. 2.

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Robert Hermann- Patented July 1, 1941 TIME SWITCH Robert Hermann,Swampscott, Mass., assgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application January 21, 194:1, Serial No. 375,152

(Cl. 20G-39) 6 Claims.

My invention relates to time switches and in particular to time switchesof the type including a clock dial Where the levers for setting the timeor times of operation of the switch mechanism are adjustable about suchdial. The principal object of my invention is the elimination of gearingor its equivalent between the setting levers and the time actuatedswitch operating mechanisrn in time switches of the type above mentionedto the end that the mechanism may be simplified and made less costly inconstruction without sacrificing reliability and accuracy.

The features of my invention which are believed to be novel andpatentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto. For abetter understanding of my invention, reference is made in the followingdescription to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents aperspective front view of a time switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2represents a horizontal cross-section view taken through the center ofthe device of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an exploded View of the switchsetting levers and the time actuated switch operating mechanism withwhich the levers cooperate.

The invention will be described as applied to a non-repeat form of timeswitch often employed for turning on an electric range at apredetermined adjustable time and off at a later predeterminedadjustable time and thereafter to remain idle insofar as its switchingoperations are concerned until reset or cocked, although the clockthereof may continue to run and indicate time. The external appearancemay .be as represented in Fig. 1 where I0 represents a suitable casing,I I a twelve hour clock dial on which hour and minute hands I2 and I3indicate the time of day and about which on and off switch settinglevers I4 and I5 may be adjusted. For reasons which will appear later,the central portions IG and I1 of the dial rotate as a unit and the hourhand I2 may be painted thereon. Part I8 may be omitted, but its presenceimproves the appearance and increases the visibility of the clock hands.The on and 01T levers extend through a circular opening I8 between thecentral rotary part of the dial and the outer stationary part II of thedial. I9 represents a lever extending through a slot 20 in a wall of thecasing, which lever serves both for manually cooking the switch and asan indicator of the condition of the switch. In the illustration, Fig.l, the switch is cocked or set" as indicated by the position of leverI9, to go on at 12:35 as indicated by the position of lever I4, and togo off at 5:30 as indicated by the position of lever I5. When theswitch` goes on, lever I3 will move to the center of slot 2D oppositethe indication on and when the switch goes off, lever I9 will movefurther to the rear of slot 2l) opposite the indication off where itwill remain until it is manually moved to the set position.

A preferred form of mechanism embodying the invention is illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2, 2| represents any suitable form of clock motorwhich is connected to drive the minute hand I3 and its shaft 22 throughgears 23 and 24 and a slip friction clutch indicated as a spring washer25 inserted between gear 24 and a gear 25, the latter being fast onshaft 22. Gear 24 is not secured directly to shaft 22 but may rotatethereon to permit manual setting of the clock hands by reason ofslipping of the clutch. Under normal operating conditions the clutchdoes not slip and hence the minute hand is rotated in a clockwisedirection once per hour. The hour hand disk comprising the parts I6 andI1 with the hour hand I2 are secured to hollow shaft 21 and this shaftis driven clockwise one revolution in twelve hours through a gear 23secured to hollow shaft 21, back gears 29 and 30 and gear r26 on minutehand shaft 22. The clock shaft assembly has bearings in clock plates 3Iand 32 and the central portion I1 of the rotary hour dial has a rearwardextension 33 which rides lightly on a collar 34 fastened to andcomprising a part of the off switch setting lever I5. Collar 34y alsohas a rearward extension fitting inside of a collar 35 fastened to andcomprising a partof the on lever I4. Collar 35 has a bearing t within anopening in a clock plate 36 and is secured from axial displacement insuch opening by its T- shaped cross-section and a spring washer 31compressed between plate 36 and the annular part of lever I4 whichembraces and is secured to collar 35. The collars 34 and 35 areconcentric to and may be rotated about the axis of the clock shafts bylever projections I4 and I5 and they have sufficient friction againstsuch movement to stay in any rotary position to which adjusted. Thefriction of collar 34 against rotary movement is preferably increased bya thin annular collar 38 fastened to lever I5 and inserted between theforward face of clock plate 35 and spring washer 31. These switch timesetting collars are thus normally stationary and provide a bearingsurface on which part 33 of the hour dial I1 rides and by means of whichthe collar 34 is held from forward axial movement.

The inner peripheries of collars 34 and 35 are concentric with the clockshafts but spaced therefrom and have radial slots 39 and 40 cut thereinof such dimensions as to permit a resilient catch member 4I to passtherethrough when longitudinal key way or slot 43 in shaft 2l, forming asplined connection between the sleeve 42 and shaft 21. The parts 4I and42 therefore rotate with the hour shaft 2`| at one revolution in twelvehours. The sleeve 42 comprises a switch operating member and ispreferably provided with a disk 44 of insulating material for makingcontact with movable switch contact members which may be arranged aboutthe periphery of the disk and one of which is shown at 45.

The switch operating member is shown in the cocked or set position. Insuch position a spring 46 is compressed between the rear of the sleeve42 and the clock plate 32. This spring urges the switch operating membertowards the front of the clock but such movement is normally preventedby reason of the fact that the forward turned-in end of resilient catch4I abuts against the collar 35. The parts 4| and 35 thus comprise acatch stop. When, however, catch 4I rotating with shaft 2`| rotates intoalignment with the slot 39 in collar the switch operating member 42-44moves forward sliding on shaft 2'I until the forward end of catch 4Istrikes against collar 34 comprising another stop plate. In thisintermediate position of the switch operating member, the contact membersuch as 45, due to its bent shape is forced outward to make contact witha stationary contact member such as shown at 4'I, thereby closing theswitch represented. This is the on position of the switch.

When the catch 4| now rotates into alignment with the slot in stop platecollar 34, the switch operating member 42 again moves forward untilstopped by its enlarged hub part striking against collar 35 orotherwise. This allows the disk 44 to move from beneath the forwardsloped end of switch member 45V and allows the switch to open. This isthe off position of the mechanism. In this condition the spring 46 ispreferably under little or no tension so that no material friction isencountered by reason of parts 42 and 35 rubbing together as part 42continues to rotate.

The cooking lever I9 is pivoted at 48 and its inner end is forked and isprovided with trunnion pins, one of which is indicated at 49, which pinsextend inward and ride in a groove 50 in the rear end of sleeve 42. Thelever thus moves with the sliding movement of the sleeve 42 and producesthe indications set, on and off as explained in connection with Fig. lfor the corresponding positions of the switch operating mechanism.

It will be noted that the shape of resilient catch 4| is such that ifthe sleeve 42 be forced to the rear to compress the spring 46, the catchmay spring radially inward and pass beneath the inner peripheries ofcollars 34 and 35 without being rotated into alignment with the slots 39and 40. The recess 43 in hollowT shaft 42 is of sufhcient depth topermit the forward end of spring catch 4| to be sprung towards the shaftand pass beneath the collars in any relatively rotary position of theseparts. Hence the handle I9 may be pulled forward manually from the offto the set position, or from the off to the on position, or from the onto the set position at any time to position the switch operating partsaccordingly. If `the mechanism be in the set or the on position and itis desired to move it to the on or to the off position without waitingfor the catch 4| to be rotated into alignment with the slots 39 or 49 incollars 35 and 34 by the clock, then the lever I4 or I5 or both may beturned to rotate the slots 39 or 40 or both into alignment with catch4|. For example, in Fig. 1 if the lever I4 be rotated into alignmentwith the hour hand I2, the lever I9 will move `to the on position andthe switch will then be closed. The switch may thus be manually operatedin either direction any desired amount at any time.

In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the switch has been cocked or setsubsequent to the time setting of the on lever I4. This setting of thedevice means that the switch will not be automatically operated untilthe hour hand next passes the on lever. For example, let it be assumedthat the clock time indicated is 1:20 P. M. No automatic switchoperation will occur until the next 12:35 A. M. when the switch will beturned on and it will then be turned off at 5:30 A. M. Ii, however, theon lever I4 is positioned ahead of the hour hand, say at 2:00 P. M. withthe other conditions remaining unchanged, the switch will then go on at2:00 P. M. and off at 5:30 P. M. The use of the principles involved inthis switch is not conned to the particular switching arrangement shownand described. Several switches can be operated by the same mechanismand some may be turned on when others are turned olf. A twenty-four hourtime dial and timing arrangement may be used and the number of automaticoperations that may be performed by the progressive step-by-step forwardmovement of sleeve 42 may be increased by adding more slotted collarssuch as 34 and 35 and correspondingly extending the axial movement rangeof the sleeve 42.

It will be noted that the use of a rotary inner dial with the hour handpainted thereon allows such dial to be supported on the hour hand shaftwith the levers I4 and I5 freely accessible for manual adjustmentconcentric with the clock dial. No gearing or its equivalent is requiredto be operated through the levers I4 and I5 and a single dial is usedfor telling time and for setting of the switch.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustretive and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A time switch including a clock having a hollow hour hand shaft, aminute hand shaft extending through the hour hand shaft, la timing motorfor driving said shafts at different desired rates, a clock dial havingan outer stationary time graduated section and an inner circular sectionseparated from each 4other by a circular slit, the inner section beingsecured to and driven by said hollow shaft and having a radial hour handindication thereon, a switch operating member splined on said hollowshaft so as to rotate therewith but movable 'axially thereon, means forurging axial movement of said member in one direction, a catch stop fornormally preventing such movement but permitting movement in theopposite direction, said catch stop comprising a part rotated with saidmember and a part having a handle extending through said circular slitand manually adjustable about said shafts, said parts having onerelatively rotary position where the stop catch is ineffective toprevent axial movement of said member, and a switch operated by theaxial movement of said member.

2. A time switch including a clock having a hollow hour hand shaft, aminute hand shaft extending through the hour hand shaft, a timing motorfor driving said shafts at different desired rates, a clock dial havinga circular central opening concentric with said shafts and having a timegraduated scale flanking said opening, means driven by said shafts forindicating time on said scale, a switch operating member splined on saidhollow shaft so as to rotate therewith but movable axially thereon,resilient means for urging said member axially of said shaft in onedirection, a catch stop having a part rotated `with said member and apart having a handle extending through the circular opening in said dialpart and indicating on said time scale for manually adjusting said partabout said clock shafts, said catch stop preventing the laxial movementof said member in the direction urged by said resilient means exceptwhen the parts of said cat-ch stop are in one relatively rotaryposition, manual means for axially moving said member 'against the urgeof said resilient means, said movement being permitted in all relativelyrotary positions of the catch stop 'parts and switching means operatedby the axial movement of said member.

3. A time switch comprising a time driven shaft, time indicating meanscomprising a circular time dial, and means lindicating thereon one ofwhich is stationary and one of which is driven by said shaft, a switch,means for operating said switch comprising a member splined to saidshaft to rotate therewith and to move axially thereon, spring means formoving said member along said shaft to operate said switch and means fordetermining the time of such operation comprising a stop normallypreventing axial movement of said member and comprising a part on andro' tated with said member `and a normally stationary part concentricwith and adjustable about shaft, said stop parts allowing axial movementof said member in the direction urged by said spring only in oneselected relatively rotary position of said parts, and an arm integrallyconnected with the normally stationary stop part and extending to andindicating on the circular time dial for manually adjusting the rotaryposition of such stop part.

4. A time switch including a clock having a hollow hour hand shaft, aminute hand shaft extending therethrough, a timing motor for driv- -ingsaid shafts at different desired rates, 'a clock dial having a centralopening concentric with said shafts adjacent the forward ends thereof,means driven by said shafts for indicating time on said dial, a switchoperating member splined on said hollow shaft so as to rotate therewithbut movable axially thereon, a spring for urging said member forwardyalong said hollow shaft, means for controlling first and second forwardmovements of said member comprising a pair of normally stationary stopplates at different axial positions along said hollow shaft havingcentral openings concentric with said hollow shaft, and a spring catchsecured to and rotated with said member having extended and retractedradial positions such as to prevent or permit its passage through theopenings in said plates, each plate having a radial slot in its innerperiphery of such dimensions as to allow the catch to pass forwardtherethrough in one relatively rotary Iposition of catch and plate,levers extending from each stop plate through the central opening in theclock 'dial and indicating on said dial by means of which the stopplates may be manually and independently rotated to desired positions todetermine the times of the rst and second forward movements of theswitch operating member, and a switch operated by the first and secondforward movements of said member.

5. A time switch including Ia clock having 'a hollow hour hand shaft, aminute yhand shaft extending therethrough, atiming motor for drivingsaid shafts at different desired rates, a clock dial `having a centralopening concentric with said shafts and having a time graduated scaleflanking said opening, means driven by said shafts for indicating timeon said scale, la switch oper- -ating member splined on said hollowshaft so as to rotate therewith but movable axially thereon, acompression spring coiled about said lhollow shaft tothe rear of saidmember for urging the member forward along said shaft. a resilient catchpart secured to said member, and rotatable therewith, a plural-ity ofstops at different axial positions with which said catch part cooperatesto control lthe progressive forward step by step axial movement of saidmember, each stop preventing the forward movement of said catch beyondsuch stop except in one relatively rotary position of the catch andstop, arms extending from each stop member through the dial opening andindicating on the time scale for individually and manually rotating thestops, switching means operated by the axial movement of said member andmeans for moving said member to the rear lagainst the tension of saidspring.

A time switch comprising a time driven shaft, a clock dial adjacent theforward end of said shaft, havin-g an outer stationary part carrying atime scale and an inner part secured to and driven by said shaft andhaving a time indicating hand indicating on the stationary scale, aswitch, means for operating said switch comprising a member splined onsaid shaft to rotate therewith and move axially thereon, a spring formoving said member forward and axially of said shaft, a stop catch fornormally preventing such movement comprising a resilient catch on androtated with said member and a pair of washe-rshaped stop plates atdifferent axial positions forward of said member and having innerperi'pheries concentric with and spaced from said shaft in approximateaxial alignment with .the path of rotation of said catch, said catch andstop plates serving to control the forward axial movement of saidmember, each plate having a radial slot in its inner periphery to allowthe catch to pass therethrough in one relatively rotary position of thecatch and plate, levers extending from sai'd stop plates between thedial parts for rotatively adjusting said plates with respect to the:time scale, and a stationary clock plate having a circular opening forr-ot'altively supporting the rear stop plate, the forward stop platebeing rotative-ly supported between the rear clock plate and the rear ofthe inner `clock dial part, both stop plates being rotatively supportedconcentric :to said shaft.

ROBERT HERMANN.

